Jacob Taylor

Dr. Jacob Taylor is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland and a Fellow at the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His research focuses on quantum information science, dark matter detection, and the development of quantum sensors. Taylor leads the Taylor Research Group, which explores mechanical quantum sensing, quantum computing applications, and gravitational interactions. He has advised numerous graduate students, including Prabin Adhikari, Andrew Glaudell, and Haitan Xu, and collaborates with postdoctoral researchers such as Vanita Srinivasa and Minh Tran.

His work spans theoretical and experimental domains, with notable contributions to dark matter detection methodologies, including proposals for ultraheavy dark matter searches using mechanical pendulums and optomechanical sensors. Taylor has also pioneered quantum computing automation techniques, leveraging machine learning to optimize quantum dot systems. His research has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the 2020 Department of Commerce Gold Medal for expanding U.S. leadership in quantum information science.

In recent years, Taylor's team has published extensively on topics like backaction-evading receivers, cavity-mediated spin qubit entanglement, and pressure sensing via atomic collisions. These studies highlight his interdisciplinary approach, blending quantum mechanics, engineering, and computational methods. His laboratory work emphasizes both fundamental physics and practical applications, such as improving cryogenic systems for dark matter experiments like DarkSide-20k.

• Awards: Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award (2020)
• Grants and Funding: Supported by NIST and DOE projects in quantum sensing and dark matter detection
• Lab Affiliations: Taylor Research Group (JQI), QuICS (Quantum Information and Computer Science)